The Chester Lions Club and the Long Valley Community

Please let me take this opportunity to introduce you to an organization in which you may or may not already be familiar with. The Chester Lions Club is a non-profit organization that has been serving the community of Long Valley for over 40 years. The main objective and mission of the Chester Lions Club, and it's parent organization Lions International is eye sight preservation. The Lions International Network is made up of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge local communities and communities around the world. 

Although it is called the Chester Lions Club, we are very active in serving not only the community of Chester, but also the communities of Long Valley and Mendham. Additionally, over 35% of members from the Chester Lions Club live in Long Valley, making the Long Valley community an important consideration in all that we do.

In the 42 year existence of the club, the Chester Lions has financially assisted the Long Valley First Aid Squad and all 3 the town's fire departments. We have supported the police station and local schools, including offering $1000 scholarships to Long Valley high school seniors for college. In fact, each year, the club grants $20,000 in scholarships between West Morris Central and West Morris Mendham high school seniors. Additionally, we have made generous contributions in the past to the Morristown Memorial Gagnon Center which benefit all residents of surrounding communities, including Long Valley.

Each year the Chester Lions give money to the many churches in town to assist them with helping the needy. We support the local food pantry, other community initiatives, local boy and girl scouts, as well as individuals in distress. While we cannot help with every request that we receive, every request is read and taken into consideration and it is our policy to help when and where we can.
One of the biggest ways that we are able to raise the funds to give away is through our annual Oktoberfest, which takes place each year the last weekend in September at Chubb Park. This year, September 29th and 30th will mark our 14th annual Oktoberfest. The event has been wildly successful thanks to the support from the communities we serve-- not only those attending, but the 150 volunteers who come out to help, including local high schoolers and senior citizens. The support back from the community has been extraordinary and we thank everyone who has helped us along the way.

Because the activities of the Chester Lions Club are geared towards serving the community in silent, behind the scenes ways, one of the major challenges that the club faces is a lack of public awareness regarding who we are and what we do for the community. I am hoping that through the Patch we can start to improve this. The official club website (www.chesterlionsclubnj.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/chesterlionsclubnj) are both great sources for more information about our club. Please check them out, "Like" us on Facebook, and most importantly remember that The Chester Lions Club is here for you, it's community, to do as our motto instructs-- "to serve."